Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment (UCSF)

09/01/2026

Rates of fertility and fecundity have declined substantially over the last 40 years, while rates of miscarriage and preterm birth have increased. Climate-related exposures — from extreme heat and air pollution to microplastics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals — may be an important and underrecognized contributor.

A new blog from former UCSF Environmental Research and Translation for Health Center scholar Anna Claire Fernández synthesizes the latest evidence on climate change and reproductive health, and raises a timely new question: as AI data centers multiply and energy demands surge, who bears the environmental costs — and what could that mean for reproductive health outcomes in vulnerable communities?

Investigating climate change impacts on reproductive health reveals a minefield of urgent questions: How do heat and pollution affect fetal development? What role do endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as microplastics and PFAS, play in infertility? Why have fecundity and fertility declined over th...

08/14/2026

Big win in California: paraquat is being phased out. The science has been clear for years — now policy is catching up. 🌱

More details on the ban here: https://www.thenewlede.org/2026/08/california-phasing-out-paraquat-parkinsons-disease/

08/13/2026

When wildfire smoke fills the air, health warnings tend to focus on children, older adults, and people with heart or lung conditions. But what about pregnant people?

PRHE Acting Director Dr. Amy Padula spoke with Climate, Gendered about her research at the intersection of wildfire smoke and reproductive health — including what we know about pregnancy complications, fertility treatments, and which communities bear the greatest burden.

Are mothers' lives at risk due to smoke exposure? Are pregnancy outcomes? Should IVF be delayed? Is s***m affected? CG spoke with Amy Padula, a professor at UC San Francisco and the Acting Director of the Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, about these and other potential impacts.

08/04/2026

Save the date!

PRHE partner UCSF Environmental Research and Translation for Health Center is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, August 19 at 11 AM PT with Dr. Stephanie Gaw on how wildfire smoke exposure may affect placental function and what multi-omic research is revealing about maternal and fetal health.

Register at earth.ucsf.edu/events.

07/29/2026

If you've seen smoky skies recently, this is worth reading — especially if you're pregnant or have young children.

In our latest blog, PRHE Acting Director Dr. Amy Padula draws on years of research to explain how wildfire smoke affects pregnant people and their babies. A PRHE study of more than 4.5 million California births found that high smoke exposure was linked to serious complications, with the greatest burden falling on communities already facing health inequities.

Swipe through our infographic series for practical steps to protect yourself, and read the full blog here: https://wp.me/p96JEP-2dm

07/07/2026

A new PRHE study published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology shows that social conditions — like poverty, discrimination, and limited healthcare access — can compound the harm of chemical exposures.

Read our new blog, guest authored by lead author Dr. Jessica Trowbridge, to learn more: https://prheucsf.blog/2026/07/07/why-social-conditions-must-be-part-of-environmental-health-risk/

07/01/2026

Dr. Jessica Trowbridge, Associate Research Scientist at PRHE and a breast cancer survivor, testified today with Breast Cancer Prevention Partners on the Safer Food Packaging Act (AB 1148) at a CA State Assembly Committee on Health hearing.

Drawing on both her research and lived experience, Dr. Trowbridge spoke about the health risks associated with bisphenols and phthalates in food packaging and the importance of reducing exposure to these harmful chemicals. 👏

06/29/2026

06/23/2026

Did you know tire wear is one of the biggest sources of microplastics in our waterways? A new study found that fish and shrimp readily eat these tiny rubber particles — and it's stunting their growth and altering behavior in ways that ripple up the food chain. 🐟

Tire particles might seem tasty, if you’re a fish—but a new study shows how this pervasive microplastic can affect growth and behavior in marine species.

06/16/2026

New research from team members of UCSF Environmental Research and Translation for Health Center sheds light on the prenatal environment. Scientists examined amniotic fluid and confirmed 10 environmental contaminants, 9 of which had never previously been detected.

Our latest blog post breaks down what was found and why amniotic fluid deserves much closer attention in future research. 🧪

The fluid that surrounds a baby during pregnancy does more than cushion and protect. Amniotic fluid reflects what a developing fetus is exposed to in the womb, offering a direct snapshot of both fetal metabolic processes and the prenatal environment. Yet despite its importance, scientists have rarel...